My Department administers a number of funding schemes to support local authority delivery of social housing. Each scheme, depending on its objectives and delivery mechanism, has a process in place whereby local authorities secure approval for funding for social housing projects.The overall pre-construction process for local authority capital-funded, social housing build projects involves local authorities undertaking a range of work including site investigations, needs assessment, planning under Part 8 including community and local elected members’ consultations, project design, procurement of design teams and contractors under the Capital Works Management Framework. The majority of local authority projects are assessed and approved by my Department via a 4-stage process.
Local authorities also have the option of using a single stage approval process for social housing projects up to €6 million in value. Local authorities also deliver social housing via turnkey and Part V contracts with developers. Such contracts also require a single funding approval.
In January 2022, I published a new Design Manual for Quality Housing and a Review of the Pre-Construction Processes undertaken in cooperation with the local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) sectors. These initiatives are important to improve the quality, cost-effectiveness and pace of delivery of social homes.
The table below outlines the number of applications received by my Department utilising the 4 stage pre-construction process for social housing capital projects by local authority from 2017-2022.
Local Authority
|
Projects to SHIP 4-Stage Pre-construction Programme 2017 to present
|
Carlow
|
10
|
Cavan
|
19
|
Clare
|
14
|
Cork City
|
13
|
Cork County
|
29
|
DLR
|
11
|
Donegal
|
9
|
Dublin City
|
19
|
Fingal
|
13
|
Galway City
|
13
|
Galway County
|
23
|
Kerry
|
29
|
Kildare
|
10
|
Kilkenny
|
12
|
Laois
|
10
|
Leitrim
|
5
|
Limerick
|
25
|
Longford
|
11
|
Louth
|
7
|
Mayo
|
24
|
Meath
|
23
|
Monaghan
|
10
|
Offaly
|
11
|
Roscommon
|
14
|
Sligo
|
7
|
South Dublin
|
8
|
Tipperary
|
22
|
Waterford
|
12
|
Westmeath
|
15
|
Wexford
|
20
|
Wicklow
|
28
|